Terminal contact



Jan. 15, 1935. w, FRANK ETAL TERMINAL CONTACT Filed Aug. 19, 1933 INVENTORS MM 3W BY Patented Jan. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TERMINAL CONTACT Virginia Application August 19, 1933, Serial No. 685,824

8 Claims. (Cl. 200134) The invention of this application relate to terminal contacts, particularly to those of the character used with the terminals or ends of cartridge fuses, and consequently more particularly known as fuse clips.

The principal objects of the invention of the present application are to provide novel forms of contacts, disclosed and described in detail with reference to the appended drawing whose figures show these embodiments. In this drawing,

Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, 10, in pairs, are side elevational views, and right end views, of latch type contacts, shown in connection with round ferrule ends of cartridge fuses;

In Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a latch type contact having a copper base 50, to which is secured the ends of steel wire bail 51 whose bight passes through the inclined slot 52 of a projection'53 formed on a copper cap block 54, the latter and the base 50 having cooperating rounded recesses for receiving the round end or ferrule F of a fuse. When it is desired to place the ferrule end of a fuse in the contact, the ferrule end is seated in the rounded socket of the base 50 after the bail 51 has been swung to the right of Fig. 1 to clear the base. To hold the ferrule in place, the bail 51 and the cap block 54 are swung back to the position of Fig. 1, simultaneously. As the bail bight rides up the inclined slot 52, it forces the cap block 54 into intimate contact and clamping engagement with the ferrule F.

In Figs. 3 and 4, there is shown a similar construction including a copper base 56, a steel bail 57, and a steel latch 58 having an eccentric hole 59 through which passes the bight of the bail.

When the ferrule F is to be connected to the contact and clamped against the base 56, the bail 57 and the latch 58 are swung to the right to clear the base, so that ferrule F may be. seated in the 40 rounded seat thereof. Then the bail and latch are swung back to the position of Fig. 3, and as the latch 58 is swung down to the position of Fig.

3, the eccentricity of the cam on its end with respect to the axis of the hole 59 causes the cam latch to engage the ferrule F intimately, forcing it against the base 56.

In Figs. 5 and 6, there is shown a similar construction employing a copper base 61 having a slot 62 in the base thereof receiving the bight of a U shaped steel spring wire 63 having'spring loops 64. The ends of the wire are bent inwardly and into loops 65 formed as wings of a steel latching plate 66 having a curved central edge 67. When it is desired to clamp a fuse ferrule F against the block 61, the wire 63 and the latch plate 66 are swung to the right of Fig. 5 to clear the base and permit the ferrule to be seated in its rounded seat. Then the bail and the plate, together are moved back to the left, towards the position of Fig. 5, the plate being moved with the bail, and lying in substantially the plane thereof, so that the central edge 67 will clear the ferrule. Then the plate is moved beyond the bail, and overcenter, so that it will clamp the ferrule in place, the resilience of the spring loops 64 permitting the plate to be so moved.

In Figs. 7 and 8, there is shown a-contact including a U shapedcopper strap 76 having indentations 71 forming abutments or seats for the ferrule F. The upper ends of the strap are provided with slots 72 which incline downwardly, from right to left, Fig. 7. to a slight degree. Through these slots, and connecting the strap ends is passed a steel axle bolt or pin 73, journalling and supporting a steel latching plate 76 ha ing loops 77 surrounding the axle pin. When it is desired to insert the ferrule F in the contact the latching plate is rotated to the right; then the latching plate and the axle pin together. are moved to the right in the slots 72, thus clearing a path for ferrule insertion. After the ferrule is seated on the indentations 71, the axle pin and. the latching plate are moved back towards the left and downwardly to aslight degree; then the latching plate 76 is rotated on the axle pin to the position of Fig. 7. This causes the latching plate to move overcenter and engage the ferrule F tightly, to bind it against and in contact with strap 70.

Figs. 9 and 10 show a somewhat similar construction including a copper strap 80 having abutment indentations 81 and inclined slots 82. through which are passed steel pins 83 having elongated blocks 84 which ride in the slots 82 and prevent rotation of the pins with respect to the strap 80. The pins have threaded shanks 85. threaded left and right hand, respectively. and threadedly connected to these shanks are loops 86 of a steel latching plate 87 which together with the pins, connects the ends of the strap 80. When it is desired to place a fuse ferrule F in the contact, the latching plate 87 is rotated to the right of Fig. 9, which act causes relative separation of the ends of strap 80, this being due to the presence of the left and right hand ends of the shanks 85. Then the latching plate, together with the pins, is moved to the left in the slots 82, to clear a path for ferrule insertion. Reverse movement. of the contact parts clamps the ferrule in place, and

the presence of the left and right hand threads 5 on the shanks 85, cause the strap ends 80 to be drawn towards each other, and intimately engage the ferrule and tightly hold it in place.

Now having described preferred embodiments of the invention, reference will be had to the following claims which determine the scope of the same. I

We claim:

1. A terminal contact and clamp for a contact portion of a member comprising a fixed base, means projecting upwardly therefrom and, together with the base, receiving the contact portion, and a clamping means at the upper and free part of the means aforesaid and overlying the contact portion, said clamping means including a part for engaging the contact portion and for clamping it against the base, the part being movably mounted with respect to the base so as to be movable for clamping simultaneously down towards the base and in the general direction of the axis of the member.

2. A terminal contact and clamp for a contact portion of a member comprising a fixed base, means projecting upwardly therefrom and, together with the base, receiving the contact portion, and a clamping means at the upper and free part of the means aforesaid and overlying the contact portion, said clamping means including a' part for engaging the contact portion and for clamping it against the base, the part being movably mounted with respect to the base so as to be movable and rotatable for clamping simultaneously down towards the base and in the general direction of the axis of the member.

3. A terminal contact and clamp for a contact portion of a member comprising a fixed base,

means projecting upwardly therefrom and, together with the base, receiving the contact portion, and a clamping means at the upper and free part of the means aforesaid and overlying the cont-act portion, said clamping means including a part for engaging the contact portion and for clamping it against the base, the part being movably mounted with respect to the base was to be movable for clamping simultaneously down towards the base and in the general direction of the axis of the member, the part being at all times positioned directly over the contact member and being engageable for manipulation, from above the contact member and in the projected area of the space directly thereabove.

4. A terminal contact and clamp for a contact portion of a member comprising a fixed base, means projecting upwardly therefrom and, together with the base, receiving the contact portion, and a clamping means at the upper and free part of the means aforesaid and overlying the contact portion, said clamping means including a part for engaging the contact portion and for clamping it against the base, the part being movably mounted with respect to the base so as to be movable for clamping simultaneously down towards the base and in the general direction of the axis of the member, the first mentioned, upwardly projecting, means being movable with respect to the base and in paths generally in the direction of the axis of the member.

5. A terminal contact and clamp for a contact portion of a member comprising a fixed base, means projecting upwardly therefrom and, together with the base, receiving the contact portion, and a clamping means at the upper and free part of the means aforesaid and overlying the contact portion, said clamping means including a part for engaging the contact portion and for clamping it against the base, the part being movably mounted with respect to the base so as to be movable for clamping simultaneously down towards the base and in the general direction of the axis of the member, the first mentioned, upwardly projecting, means being rotatably movable with respect to the base and in paths generally in the direction of the axis of the member.

6. A terminal contact and clamp for a contact portion of a member comprising a fixed base, means projecting upwardly therefrom and, together with the base, receiving the contact portion, and a clamping means at the upper and free part of the means aforesaid and overlying thecontact portion, said clamping means including a part for engaging the contact portion and for clamping it against the base, the part being movably mounted with respect to the base so as to be movable for clamping simultaneously down towards the base and in the general direction of the axis of the member, the first mentioned, upwardly'projecting, means being movable with respect to the base and in paths generally in the direction of the axis of the member, and also being resilient so as to facilitate clamping action.

7. A terminal contact and clamp for a contact portion of a member comprising a fixed base, means projecting upwardly therefrom and, together with the base, receiving the contact portion, and a clamping means at the upper and free part of the means aforesaid and overlying the contact portion, said clamping means including a part for engaging the contact portion and for clamping it against the base, the part being movably mounted with respect to the base so as to be movable for clamping simultaneously down towards the base and in the general direction of the axis of the member, the upwardly projecting means being immovable with respect to the base.

8. A terminal contact and clamp for a contact portion of a member comprising a fixed base, means projecting upwardly therefrom and, together with the base, receiving the contact portion, and a clamping means at the upper and free part of the means aforesaid and overlying the contact portion, said clamping means including a part for engaging the contact portion and for clamping it against the base, the part being movably mounted with respect to the base so as to be movable for clamping simultaneously down towards the base and in the general direction of the axis of the member, the upwardly projecting means being movable with respect to the base in paths generally transverse to the axis of the member.

WILLIAM H. FRANK. JOSEPH A. IVIESSING. 

